San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1887-11-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(Frcm Our Regular Correspondent


WASHINGTON, Oct. 81, 1887.
One Of the busiest men in Wash.
ington is President Cleveland, who
is now absorbed in investigating the
reports of government bureau officers
and statistical works for the purpose
of preparing his annual message to
Congress. Most of the. large libra
ries in the Capital have contributed
something to the end in view, and 1
doubt whether even the encyclopedia
is an exception.
The President is not the only one
preparing for the long session OF
Congress, now SO near at hand, Us the
Congressman themselves are arriving
in tho city every day, so as to have
plenty of time to settle themselves
down before beginning the long and
laborious task of next sessions work.
which will probably extend fur into
the summer. 1t is likely that the
skirmish line of the Presidential con-
test of 1883 will be fought in the
Fiftieth Congress, so it is highly
probable that many exciting and
sensational scenes will be enacted in
the effort to manufacture political
capital for use in the pending cam
paign.
The tariff will be the question OF
all others that will occupy the at
tention of that body, while the dis
position of the Treasury surplus will
perhaps be considered collateral
subject.
The Interstate Commerce law will
be amended, and in new Legislation,
efforts will be made for the better
protection of railroad passengers
from being roasted to death by heat
ing stoves and kerosene lamps.
Those who advocate government
control of the telegraph expect to
move in behalf of their favorite meas
ure. A perfect shower of pension
bills may be expected, but l am OF
the opinion that most OF them will
gracefully repose on the table until
unceremoniously committed to the
Congressional or Presidential waste
baskets, for reform and retrenchment
will be the watchwords with Demo
Gratis, while the Republicans will
chiefly figure MS malcontents and OBJ
structionists.
The Fisheries Commission, of which
you have heard so much, has engaged
thirty two rooms at one of the lead
ing hotels and will begin it's delibera
tions the latter part of next week, at
which time the arrival of the British
Commissioners is expected; their
American colleagues are now here
in consultation with secretary Bayard
as to their duties and the extent OF
their authority.
The difference of opinion between
the Civil Service Commissioners in
regard to the scope and operations
of the law which they are called
upon to enforce, have become SC
acrimonious that their personal re
lations are strained and the contro-
versy has become public scandal
These once dignifed officials have
fallen to fighting among themselves
like a trio of unruly schoolboys, and
/ it is not at all improbable that the
President will feel It bis duty TO play
the role of teacher and give them a
sample of his discipline.
For a long time the Postoffice
Department was greatly puzzled at
the wholesale reduction in the salaries
of those postmasters whose pay de-
pends upon the amount of postage
stamps cancelled by them, steady
decrease being noted in every case
where q Democrat has succeeded
Republican. Bnt an investigation
shows that the Republican post
masters had been making false re-
turns and charging for stamps sold
but not cancelled, while, on the other
hand, their Democratic successors
have kept honest accounts with the
government The result is that the
old Republican postmasters have
been compelled TO refund half a
million dollsrs wrongfully withheld
from the United States. Turn the
rascais out
The third aud fourth class post
masters are dissatisfied with their
salaries, and purpose holding q na-
'tional convention in this city in De
cember, with the object Of calling